In 9 years, temple stampedes killed over 900

In 9 years, temple stampedes killed over 900

Stampedes at temples and other religious places in India have claimed nearly 900 lives in the past nine years, including those who died in Friday night's melee at Sabarimala shrine.

Most recently, on March 4, 2010, nearly 63 people were killed and 15 injured when a gate at Kripalu Maharaj's Ashram at Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh collapsed during distribution of food on the occasion of a ritual, for which nearly 10,000 people had converged.

In 9 years, temple stampedes killed over 900

On September 30, 2008, more than 200 devotees were killed and over 60 injured in a stampede at Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan's Jodhpur. The incident took place after the rumour of a bomb going off spread in the area.

More than 10,000 people had turned up at the famous temple for a darshan of the Hindu goddess.

Such a tragedy at the Hindu temple of Naina Devi in Himachal Pradesh on August 3, 2008 had killed over 150 people, mainly women and children, and injured nearly 230.